Online check-in question
Jun 15, 2010 | 3:54 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Los Angeles
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Posts: 791
Online check-in question
Like everyone, I hate sitting in the back of the plane. When possible, I spend the money to buy a particular seat.
But I have a question about online checkin when there is no opportunity to buy your way to the front of the plane.
I try to get the best possible seat when booking my flight. Our corporate travel agency books us at least 6 - 8 weeks out from our date of departure so theoretically there should be a great selection of seats at that time. If my original assigned seat isn't great, I change it as best as possible as soon as our arrangements are made.
I usually check in right when it's available - 24 hours to the minute of when my flight is leaving. My colleague is technology-challenged and she rarely checks in until shortly before she has to leave for the airport or worse, when she gets to the airport. More often than not, she's able to change her seat and is sitting way up front.
Is it best to check in online later rather than earlier to get a better seat? Do airlines start assigning seats from the back so if you're checking in at 23 hours and 59 minutes you lose out?
But I have a question about online checkin when there is no opportunity to buy your way to the front of the plane.
I try to get the best possible seat when booking my flight. Our corporate travel agency books us at least 6 - 8 weeks out from our date of departure so theoretically there should be a great selection of seats at that time. If my original assigned seat isn't great, I change it as best as possible as soon as our arrangements are made.
I usually check in right when it's available - 24 hours to the minute of when my flight is leaving. My colleague is technology-challenged and she rarely checks in until shortly before she has to leave for the airport or worse, when she gets to the airport. More often than not, she's able to change her seat and is sitting way up front.
Is it best to check in online later rather than earlier to get a better seat? Do airlines start assigning seats from the back so if you're checking in at 23 hours and 59 minutes you lose out?
Jun 15, 2010 | 7:44 am
#2
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Join Date: May 2001
Location: MSY; 2-time FT Fantasy Football Champ, now in recovery.
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Posts: 14,814
I'm pretty sure the answer may vary by airline.
AA, for example, lets you change your seat online as often as you want, but once you check in online, you can't change your seat until you get to the airport. My rule of thumb is not to check in until I'm satisfied with my seat, since there's no real benefit to earlier check-in (except in event of flight cancellation).
It's worth noting that while the best seats tend to be the first ones chosen, as the flight gets closer, some very good seats may become available.
- Elite passengers may free up good seats as they upgrade into F.
- Some seats are held for airport assignment (for passengers with mobility issues), but may end up being available to anyone.
- Last minute changes, especially business pax deciding to take a different flight.
- Passengers going standby or same-day-confirmed onto an earlier flight.
I can't tell you how many times I've been on flights that showed only middle seats a few days before departure, but where my persistence in re-checking has meant I was able to snag a great seat before leaving for the airport.
AA, for example, lets you change your seat online as often as you want, but once you check in online, you can't change your seat until you get to the airport. My rule of thumb is not to check in until I'm satisfied with my seat, since there's no real benefit to earlier check-in (except in event of flight cancellation).
It's worth noting that while the best seats tend to be the first ones chosen, as the flight gets closer, some very good seats may become available.
- Elite passengers may free up good seats as they upgrade into F.
- Some seats are held for airport assignment (for passengers with mobility issues), but may end up being available to anyone.
- Last minute changes, especially business pax deciding to take a different flight.
- Passengers going standby or same-day-confirmed onto an earlier flight.
I can't tell you how many times I've been on flights that showed only middle seats a few days before departure, but where my persistence in re-checking has meant I was able to snag a great seat before leaving for the airport.
Jun 15, 2010 | 8:24 am
#3
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Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Easton, CT, USA
Programs: ua prem exec, Former hilton diamond
Posts: 31,801
Honestly, somebody needs to have a talk with your corporate travel agency if they can't get you good seats at the time they book the tickets. That's one of their functions, you shouldn't have to mess with seats.
To answer it totally depends on the airline. Some may be moving their better passengers because of upgrades, so the coach seats they were in may open up closer to the flight. Sometimes people cancel or stand by for earlier flights, so those seats will open up. That's usually not leisure travelers, so one can assume they were in better seats.
To answer it totally depends on the airline. Some may be moving their better passengers because of upgrades, so the coach seats they were in may open up closer to the flight. Sometimes people cancel or stand by for earlier flights, so those seats will open up. That's usually not leisure travelers, so one can assume they were in better seats.